Chapter 77
Augustin’s POV
watched from our box as Elder Quentor continued his interrogation of Juno. My anger simmered just beneath the surface as he accused her of conspiring with Kieran, twisting evidence and manipulating facts to paint her as guilty,
“If you don’t confess, you and your companions will be severely punished for your crimes, Quentor threatened, his voice carrying through the council chamber.
“I haven’t done anything, so I won’t confess to anything,” Juno replied.
When Quentor produced the letters from Alpha Maddox, claiming they proved Juno had been communicating with Matthew, I’d had enough. I couldn’t sit silent any longer while they tried to destroy her.
“STOP!” I stood. “I instructed Juno to write a letter to her husband, which I personally mailed. She had no knowledge that my mother was in Goldenvale at the time.”
The room fell silent as I continued my defense, explaining that the attackers had never asked about Juno, that they had beaten my mother and killed Helena. The murmurs that erupted when I announced Juno would soon be my Luna only fueled my determination.
After my declaration, members of the Elder Council, their eyes fixed on me with varying degrees of respect, fear, or disdain. The air in the chamber was thick with tension as Quentor recovered and finished his speech.
“According to our traditional laws, a wolf who has been marked by another Alpha cannot become Luna Queen.*
I felt my patience wearing thin. Hours of circular arguments, veiled accusations, and manipulated evidence had pushed me to my limit. Fenris, was growling deep inside me, urging me to assert my dominance.
I drummed my fingers against the table, the rhythmic tapping drawing all eyes to me. The tension in the room thickened as my gaze settled on each Elder in turn. I could sense their anxiety, their hesitation–some feared me, others resented me, but all recognized the power I wielded.
“You think I’m an Alpha who’s bound by rules, Quentor?” I asked. The wood beneath my fingertips cracked slightly as my claws partly extended, a subtle reminder of the beast that lurked just beneath my skin.
Quentor’s expression remained impassive, but I caught the slight twitch in his jaw. Good. He was nervous.
“The rules exist for a reason, Alpha King,” he replied carefully. “They maintain order and tradition. Without them-
“Without them, I’d still be Alpha King,” I cut in, rising slowly from my chair. My gaze swept across the room, making eye contact with each Elder. “Listen carefully. Juno will become my Luna Queen at the Purplemoon ceremony, and Scarlett will marry my Beta Bryloch. I will no longer tolerate your slander and humiliation of them.”
Quentor slammed his palm on the table, rising to his feet. “This is unacceptable! Clifflands can only be ruled by pure Clifflands
blood!”
“Let me remind you that the Elder Council exists to assist the Alpha King, not to rise above me. I have decided what will happen, and all of you need to accept this fact.”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop as I released a fraction of my power, letting it fill the space around us. Several of the Elders shrank back in their seats.
“Two months,” I stated firmly. “You have two months to find the real suspect and motive. This is the last time you will try to frame my mate for a crime she didn’t commit.”
1/2
Chapter 77
Sebastian Holbrooke, the youngest member and head of the Elder Council, cleared his throat. “Alpha King, with all due respect, we’re simply investigating all possibilities.”
“Are you?” I asked sharply. “The tell me, who intercepted Scarlett’s letters without my permission? Such actions could be considered planned rebellion.”
A heavy silence fell over the room, I scanned their faces, looking for quilt, and my gaze landed on Evanth, who sat slightly apart from the others. His expression was too controlled, too blank.
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